Multipurpose Accessible InDesign Documents
If you build accessible documents in InDesign, you can quickly convert them to JPG/PNG, PowerPoint, or even SVG.
Use the accessible PDF for print and digital distribution, and provide it to your users along with the accessible PowerPoint.
Provide the accessible PDF to web developers along with the SVG for use on websites.
Watch these videos to see how you can eliminate the need to design multiple files with these simple tricks.
Resize and Export to Other Formats
It’s easy to resize an InDesign document to save versions of the same design as JPG/PNG, or even PowerPoint and SVG.
Why design several versions of the same information when you can use the Page Tool and Liquid Layout to easily scale and resize?
Watch this video for a demonstration of how you can make your designs go further..
Use the Simple HTML Plugin
A benefit of creating accessible, interactive documents with InDesign is that it’s easy to export all the text and images from your document to accessible HTML code using the Simple HTML plugin from Ajar Productions.
- Install the plugin from the Creative Cloud Marketplace or download it from the Ajar Productions website.
- Name all Paragraph Styles in your document with the applicable heading or paragraph tag.
- Go to the Paragraph Styles panel and choose the option “Edit All Export Tags.”
- Choose the radio button for “EPUB and HTML.”
- Match the Style name to the correct heading level and ensure “include in HTML” is checked for each.
- Go to File > Export Simple HTML.
- Perfect the code if necessary using Sublime Text or provide to your web developer.
Learn Hyperlink Tricks
Interactive hyperlinks extend the functionality of your accessible document.
Always uncheck “Shared Destination,” provide an alt-tag, and underline every hyperlink or they will not be accessible. Use a Character Style to perfect the appearance of the underline.
- URLs – make sure the protocol is always https:// not http://
- Phone Numbers – use the URL option and write them as tel:555-555-55555
- Text Anchors – ensure you change the zoom setting to “inherit zoom”
- Page Anchors – ensure you change the zoom setting to “inherit zoom”
- Links in Automatic Tables of Contents – ensure you change the zoom setting to “inherit zoom” (create a second TOC that is in the pasteboard area to generate a bookmarks panel because making this change breaks it)
Watch the video for a demonstration of how to configure hyperlinks in InDesign.
Use QR Codes
QR Codes allow all users to interact with your document in multiple ways.
Your document can be printed and used as a handout or posted on a bulletin board where someone can scan the QR code to pull that information on to their mobile device. Likewise, if someone is viewing your document on a computer, the QR code allows them to transfer that information to their mobile device.
You must remediate the figure tag for QR codes in Acrobat.
- Follow the steps to create an accessible InDesign document.
- Set a Hyperlink on the QR code figure in InDesign to describe what it does, i.e “scan this Q R code to visit XYZ website.”
- Set an alt-tag on the QR code figure in InDesign to describe what it does, i.e “scan this Q R code to visit XYZ website.”
- Follow the steps to correctly export an accessible InDesign document.
- Open the tags tree in Acrobat.
- Pull the Figure tag out from inside the Link Tag.
- Nest the Link tag inside the Figure tag.
Watch the video for a demonstration of these steps.
Course Sections
Prerequisite: Understand Inclusive and Accessible Content
- Configure Your Workspaces
- Plan the Layout
- Work with Text
- Work with Visuals
- Create Drafts
- Learn Special Considerations for Publications
- Finalize the Document: Check, Set Reading Order, and Export
- Perform Post-Process in Acrobat
- Test the Document
- Make Additional Changes
- Explore Bonus Features
- Engage with More Resources
Resource: Checklist for Accessible InDesign Documents
Resource: 90-Minute Workshop Video